Reception Blog

Welcome back! We hope you have all had a restful break and are eager to continue with all the fun we have planned this half term. Can you believe we are about to start our final half term in Reception! Here is our planned learning for the Summer 2 term in Reception:

This half term our key questions for exploring in learning are:

Where can we go?

Where next?

We will begin exploring the question ‘Where can we go?’ through looking at the world around us and thinking about where we would like to visit. We will be linking this back to our prior learning about different environments around the world and transport. We will then go on to explore the question ‘Where next’. This will enable us to explore our thoughts and feelings about moving up into Year 1. We will have the opportunity to meet our new teacher and spend some time in our Year 1 classroom with our class. We will be reflecting back on our year in Reception and celebrating all the amazing things we have done and learnt.

Read about what we will be learning in school and what you can do at home to support this.

Communication and Language (C and L)

In school we will be learning to:

• Talk about the plans they have made to carry out activities and what they might change if they were to repeat them.

• To respond to questions and make relevant comments about their own experiences.

At home you can:

• Encourage children to talk through what they do and think and reflect upon their actions/choices. Would they change anything if they were to do it again?

PSED (Personal, Social and Emotional Development)

In school we will be learning to:

• Develop own narratives and explanations by connecting ideas or events.

• Adapt work to improve outcomes and choose what activities to take part in and with whom.

At home you can:

• Encourage children to share what they have been learning at school each day / week.

• Share the new words they have learnt and include these words in everyday conversations.

PD (Physical Development)

In school / At home

• To learn how to keep safe and healthy in the sun and to continue experimenting with different ways of moving.

• To further develop pencil skills so that the height of letters is uniform, with descenders and ascenders clear.

Children have access to climbing and balancing apparatus, sports games and the outside area on a daily basis, so sensible footwear is necessary each day.

Literacy

In school we will be learning to:

• We will be learning new sounds and using our segmentation skills (splitting up words into sounds) to build words. We will also be practicing letter formation, writing simple words, captions and sentences using the sounds we have learnt.

• To use punctuation correctly.

• Daily focus activities to help develop our reading skills to read simple words and sentences independently.

• Read and write more complex sentences.

At home you can:

• Segment and spell more complex words as well as the harder to read and write words we are learning in school.

• Read lots of stories and talk about the book. (Don’t forget our 50 Nights of Reading challenge).

• Encourage children to make predictions, identify familiar words / sounds and talk about what they liked/disliked about the book. After reading the story ask your child to summarise the main points of the story.

Maths

In school we will be learning to:

• Be confident with numbers to 20

• Solve problems by doubling, halving and sharing numbers 1-20.

• Use a range of mathematical language in everyday conversations.

• Add and subtract numbers using different strategies eg. fingers, objects, a number line, Numicon.

• Know some number bonds

At home you can:

• Cover one number in a set and ask children to identify which one is hidden. Explain why you think that?

• Encourage children to help with everyday tasks such as cooking — talk about different weights, sizes, amounts.

Understanding of the World

In school we will be learning to:

• Know some similarities and differences between things in the past and now, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class.

• Describe their immediate environment using knowledge from observation, discussion, stories, non-fiction texts and maps.

• Explain some similarities and differences between life in this country and life in other countries, drawing on knowledge from stories, non-fiction texts and – when appropriate- maps.

At home you can:

• Go to the library to find books about different parts of the world.

• Talk positively about change and moving on into Year 1.

• Talk about the changes happening all around us with the change of seasons, what plants can you identify? Can you grow any?

Expressive Art and Design

In school we will be learning to:

• Explore a variety of materials and textures in order to create an end product.

• Explore technology, art, music, dance and stories

• Talk about the ideas and processes which have led to making music, designs, images or products.

At home you can:

• Encourage your child to create models and pictures with a variety of materials.

• Encourage your child to talk about what they see, do and make and discuss reasoning behind these ideas.

Outdoor Learning

Outdoor Learning will continue this term.

Pupils do not need to wear different clothing for Outdoor Learning sessions.  They must come to school in normal uniform.

All pupils are provided with outdoor learning clothing to cover their own clothing.  This is put on in school before the session starts and removed after the session ends.

Remember …

All belongings should be labelled with your child’s name.

Book bags need to be brought to school every day.

All children need a water bottle in school every day.

Important Information

Please remember, if your child wears earrings, they should only be studs. Hoops or other dangly earrings are not safe to be worn in school.

Learning at Home

Reading at home: Please ensure that your child's reading diary is brought to school every day in their book bag. Please read with your children every day and write it in their reading diary. Don’t forget that reading to your child is also really important.

Both units are on X (formerly Twitter) so please follow us for updates - use the buttons below.

The latest 'Learning At Home’ pack is available to download using the button below.  Please let us know if a paper copy is required. 

You can also visit our Learning Hub using the button below.

Dates for your diary

• Wednesday 11th June - Class photo day (details to follow)

• Tuesday 17th June - Sports day 1.45pm (details to follow)

• Friday 4th July - Graduation assemblies 9.10am and 2.00pm (details to follow)

• Thursday 17th July - Celebration assembly 9.10am

• Friday 18th July - Last day of term. Non uniform (£1 donation)

Thank you!

The Reception Team

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter)!

Don’t forget to follow our units on X.  Click a button below to find your child's unit on X.

It has been another fantastic half term in Kingfisher Unit. We have been learning so much and finding out about the world around us. Here are some of the highlights of this half term, linked to our school values.

ASPIRE

As summer term 1 comes to a close, one of the season’s brightest highlights was watching our Kingfishers curiosity blossom during our farm adventure. From learning about baby farm animals in our classroom to bravely stepping up to feed sheep and chickens, Kingfishers showed incredible courage and determination. They showed they were Ready, Respectful and Safe at all times during our trip. They eagerly asked questions about how animals grow, what they eat, and how the farm works, turning a simple trip into a meaningful learning experience. It was inspiring to see their confidence grow as they connected with nature, showed care for the animals, and embraced every opportunity to explore and learn. The farm didn’t just teach our Kingfishers about agriculture, it also nurtured their sense of wonder and the joy of discovery.

INSPIRE

Kingfishers have shown great enthusiasm and positivity whilst exploring the topic of modes of transport both here and around the world. From junk modelling creative models of vehicles that travel by land, air, and sea, to discovering how each mode is used in real life, the children were fully engaged every step of the way. We used thought-provoking questions like, ‘Would we use an aeroplane to travel to school?’ to spark discussion and deepen understanding about the purpose and practicality of different transport methods. We also asked questions about ‘how does that work’ by designing and investigating different levers, pulleys and gears. This was a very exciting and practical hands-on topic.

TEAMWORK

We are so proud of the incredible teamwork and creativity shown by our Kingfishers during our farm topic. One of our favourite achievements was creating our very own Reception Farm Book. The children worked together beautifully, collaborating on colourful artwork, sharing ideas, and helping one another to write simple sentences using their growing phonics knowledge. From labelling the parts of cows and pigs to describing what these animals eat and where they live, each child contributed something special. It was a joy to see their confidence grow as they communicated their ideas and supported their friends. This project wasn’t just about learning facts, it was about working as a team, expressing creativity, and celebrating everyone’s unique contributions.

Our Kingfishers are working so incredibly hard; they all show great resilience, confidence, and always try their best. We are so proud of all you have achieved. Enjoy your half-term holiday.

Take care and stay safe.

Mrs Acet, Miss Barnett, Miss Kinzett, Mrs Erdinc

It has been a fantastic half term in Puffin Unit. So much has happened, so much learning has taken place and the children are now so settled in school and are really enjoying their learning. Here are some of the highlights of this half term. 

ASPIRE

One of this term’s highlights was watching the Puffin’s curiosity blossom during our farm adventure. From learning about baby farm animals in our classroom to bravely stepping up to feed sheep and chickens, Puffins showed incredible courage and determination. They showed they were Ready, Respectful and Safe at all times during our trip. They eagerly asked questions about how animals grow, what they eat, and how the farm works, turning a simple trip into a meaningful learning experience. It was inspiring to see their confidence grow as they connected with nature, showed care for the animals, and embraced every opportunity to explore and learn. 

INSPIRE

Puffins have shown great enthusiasm and positivity whilst exploring the topic of modes of transport both here and around the world. From junk modelling creative models of vehicles that travel by land, air, and sea, to discovering how each mode is used in real life, the children were fully engaged every step of the way. We used thought-provoking questions like, ‘Would we use an aeroplane to travel to school?’ to spark discussion and deepen understanding about the purpose and practicality of different transport methods. We also asked questions about ‘how does that work’ by designing and investigating different levers, pulleys and gears. This was a very exciting and practical hands-on topic. We also thought about ways to travel that are friendly to our environment and we have been trying hard to walk to school so we can achieve our badges for our Living Streets scheme. 

TEAMWORK

We are so proud of the incredible teamwork and creativity shown by the Puffins during our farm topic. One of our favourite achievements was creating our very own Reception Farm Book. The children worked together beautifully, collaborating on colourful artwork, sharing ideas, and helping one another to write simple sentences using their growing phonics knowledge. From labelling the parts of horses and sheep to describing what these animals eat and where they live, each child contributed something special. It was a joy to see their confidence grow as they communicated their ideas and supported their friends. This project wasn’t just about learning facts, it was about working as a team, expressing creativity, and celebrating everyone’s unique contributions.

The Puffin class have worked tremendously hard this term to work as a team, inspire each other and share their dreams for the future. We are very proud of their achievements so far and we are excited as we look forward to Year 1. Next term we will begin to prepare for the transition ahead.

Mr Bulloch, Miss Williams, Miss Erdinc and Miss Lewis.  

Welcome back! We hope you have all had a restful break and are eager to continue with all the fun we have planned this term.

This half term our key questions for exploring in learning are:

• What is that?

• How does that work?

We will begin exploring the question ‘What is that?’ through looking at the world around us, lifecycles and animals and their young. This will be enhanced through our visit to the farm this term. We will then go on to explore the question ‘How does that work’. This will enable us to explore different modes of transport both here and around the world. We will also look at how transport works by designing and investigating different levers, pulleys and gears.

Read about what we will be learning in school and what you can do at home to support this.

Communication and Language (C and L)

In school we will be learning to: 

• Talk about animals and their habitats using vocabulary relating to our senses.

• Respond to questions and make relevant comments about their own experiences and understanding.

At home you can: 

• Share lots of books, especially books about animals and life cycles. Discuss the books together and encourage your child to explain what they have learnt from the book. Talk about your senses what words can you use to describe them?

PSED (Personal, Social and Emotional Development)

In school we will be learning to: 

• Demonstrate an understanding of rules and expectations.

• Set and work towards simple goals, set challenges and show perseverance in achieving them.

• Adapt work to improve outcomes and choose what activities to take part in and with whom.

• Show sensitivity to your own and others’ needs.

At home you can: 

• Encourage children to share what they have been learning at school each day / week.

• Play board games

PD (Physical Development)

In school we will be learning to:

• Outside we will encourage the children to move in a variety of ways such as skipping, hopping and jumping.

• To throw, run and jump in a range of different ways.

• Inside we will be focusing on gaining confidence with scissor control and continuing to develop our pencil grip. (Crocodile snap- the children will show you this, give them a pencil and say “crocodile snap” and see their pencil grip).

At home you can:

• Continue to practise putting on your coat/jumper/cardigan independently and doing it up.

• Continue to practise putting shoes on independently.

Literacy

In school we will be learning to:

• We will be learning new sounds and using our segmentation skills (splitting up words into sounds) to build words. We will also be practising letter formation, writing our own name and simple words, captions and sentences using the sounds we have learnt.

• To use punctuation correctly.

• Daily focus activities to help develop our reading skills to read simple words and sentences independently.

At home you can:

• Segment and verbally spell three/four letter words e.g hat, cat, dog, frog.

• Read lots of stories and talk about the book. (Don’t forget our 50 Nights of Reading challenge).

• Segment and spell more complex words as well as the harder to read and spell words we are learning in school.

• Share a book with your child. Encourage children to make predictions, identify familiar words / sounds and talk about what they liked/disliked about the book. After reading the story ask your child to summarise the main points of the story.

Maths

In school we will be learning to: 

• Solve problems by doubling, halving and sharing numbers 1-20.

• Use a range of mathematical language in everyday conversations.

• Number bonds to 5 and 10.

At home you can: 

• Practise number formation by writing numbers. 

• Sort numbers into the correct order (smallest to largest / largest to smallest). Talk about the patterns you can see.

Understanding of the World

In school we will be learning to:

• To name animals and their young

• To make observations of animals and plants and talk about how they change/grow over time.

 At home you can:

• Visit the local park, what plants you can see and how do they change over time?

• Go to the library to find books about animals and transport.

• Talk about the changes happening all around us with the change of seasons, what wildlife can you see?

Expressive Art and Design

In school we will be learning to: 

• Explore a variety of materials and textures in order to create an end product. 

• Explain the process used to build and create.

At home you can: 

• Encourage your child to create models and pictures with a variety of materials.

• Sing familiar songs.

Outdoor Learning

Outdoor Learning will continue this term.

Pupils do not need to wear different clothing for Outdoor Learning sessions.  They must come to school in normal uniform.

All pupils are provided with outdoor learning clothing to cover their own clothing.  This is put on in school before the session starts and removed after the session ends.

Remember …

All belongings should be labelled with your child’s name.

Book bags need to be brought to school every day.

All children need a water bottle in school every day.

Important Information

Please remember, if your child wears earrings, they should only be studs. Hoops or other dangly earrings are not safe to be worn in school.

Learning at Home

Reading at home: Please ensure that your child's reading diary is brought to school every day in their book bag. Please read with your children every day and write it in their reading diary. Don’t forget that reading to your child is also really important.

Both units are on X (formerly Twitter) so please follow us for updates - use the buttons below.

The latest 'Learning At Home’ pack is available to download using the button below.  Please let us know if a paper copy is required. 

You can also visit our Learning Hub using the button below.

Dates for your diary

• Monday 5th May – Bank holiday Monday

• Thursday 8th May – Kingfisher trip to the farm

• Friday 9th May – Puffin trip to the farm

• Monday 12th May – Book fair in school all week

• Thursday 22nd May – Celebration assembly 2.45-3.15

• Friday 23rd May – Last day of term, non school uniform

Thank you!

The Reception Team

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter)!

Don’t forget to follow our units on X.  Click a button below to find your child's unit on X.

It has been another fantastic half term in Kingfisher Unit. We have been learning so much and finding out about the world around us. Here are some of the highlights of this half term, linked to our school values.

ASPIRE

We have demonstrated our curiosity once again this half term through exploring a variety of traditional tales. We have shown our determination to make things fair and harmonious by helping the different characters solve the problems they encountered. This has really helped us understand different points of view and recognise that sometimes things don’t go as planned. This is a key skill to learn so that we are able to develop our resilience. As always Kingfishers, your determination to do your best has shone through everything we have done. The progress you are making in applying your phonic skills to read independently is absolutely amazing. Well done, keep it up.

INSPIRE

I am sure you will all agree that the children performed brilliantly for our assembly on Jack and the Beanstalk. The enthusiasm and positivity that they demonstrated were a joy to see and we still hear them singing the songs during our continuous provision times. In Kingfisher unit this term we have been able to explore our creativity through lots of activities. We have imagined what could be at the top of a beanstalk and what might grow from a seed. We have enjoyed creating our garden area by planting lots of seeds, bulbs, fruits and vegetables. I wonder what we will have grown by the end of the year?

TEAMWORK workshop – community weekly awards congratulating each other

What fun we have had in Kingfisher unit this half term. We have immersed ourselves in the wonderland of fairy tales. We have explored why the big bad wolf was so unkind to the three pigs, was he just misunderstood? How could this be resolved? Are these skills we could apply to our everyday lives? Our Kingfishers are a very considerate bunch and were able to think of so many ways that we could help the characters we met in the stories that we read. We are such a great team and are always Ready, Respectful and Safe. We are really proud of the sense of community that is seen in Kingfisher, especially when it is time to work together on a task. The children are so respectful towards each other and genuinely celebrate in others successes.

Our Kingfishers continue to amaze us with how eager they are to learn and apply their knowledge.  The children have worked very hard all term, showing their commitment to our school values. We are so very proud of them all. The two week break is thoroughly deserved.

Take care and stay safe.

Mrs Acet, Miss Barnett, Miss Kinzett, Mrs Erdinc

It has been a fantastic half term in Puffin Unit. So much has happened, so much learning has taken place and the children are now so settled in school and are really enjoying their learning. Here are some of the highlights of this half term, linked to our school values. 

ASPIRE

We have demonstrated our curiosity this term by listening to a range of traditional tales and stories. We have really enjoyed acting out and retelling the stories. We have shown determination during our phonics lessons to develop our blending and reading skills. Our resilience has meant that we keep trying to become better readers.  Puffins, you are making excellent progress and your determination to succeed has really shone through this term.

INSPIRE

The Puffin children have shown such enthusiasm this term in their learning. They have enjoyed retelling traditional tales and creating their own stories through changing the characters. In our class assembly their creativity and enthusiasm shone through and it was a delight to see their positive attitude when performing. The Puffins have produced some amazing pictures this term and we are really proud of how children are applying the skills they have previously learnt to what they independently make now. There have been a number of changes to our learning environment this term and all the Puffins have been incredibly positive and enthusiastic about this.

TEAMWORK

The Puffin children are a superb team. It is a pleasure to see how well they work together to reach a common goal. One of these has been our focus in looking after our learning environment. The children demonstrate a great sense of community in working together to keep all our resources tidy. We have enjoyed learning about different beliefs through our provision. This term children have been able to share their own experiences of Eid and we have also learnt about Easter. The children are considerate towards others and shown respect for different beliefs. Well done Puffins, you make us very proud.

Have a wonderful break everyone and we will see you soon.

Miss Williams, Mr Bulloch, Miss Erdinc and Miss Lewis

Welcome back! We hope you have all had a restful break and are eager to continue with all the fun we have planned this term.  

This half term our key questions for exploring in learning are: 

Have you heard? 

What is that? 

We will begin exploring the question ‘Have you heard?’ through looking at different Fairy Tales such as Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Little Red Hen and Jack and the Beanstalk. This will lead nicely into our question ‘What is that?’ where we will be able to explore the seasonal changes we can see in the world around us. 

Read about what we will be learning in school and what you can do at home to support this. 

Communication and Language (C and L) 

In School: 

• We will continue to ask appropriate questions and to tell stories, sequence ideas and events. 

• We will continue to encourage the children to speak clearly and audibly (so we can hear them) 

• Respond to questions and make relevant comments about their own experiences and understanding 

At Home: 

• Talk about the weather each day, what can you see outside? 

• Share lots of books, especially Fairy Tales. Discuss the books together and encourage your child to explain what they have learnt from the book.  

PSED (Personal, Social and Emotional Development) 

In School: 

• Demonstrate an understanding of rules and expectations. 

• Set and work towards simple goals, set challenges and show perseverance in achieving them. 

• Adapt work to improve outcomes and choose what activities to take part in and with whom. 

• Show sensitivity to your own and others’ needs. 

At Home: 

• Play board games. 

• Encourage children to share what they have been learning at school each day / week. 

PD (Physical Development) 

In School: 

• Outside we will encourage the children to move in a variety of ways such as skipping, hopping and jumping.  

• Inside we will be focusing on gaining confidence with scissor control and continuing to develop our pencil grip. (Crocodile snap- the children will show you this, give them a pencil and say “crocodile snap” and see their pencil grip). 

At Home: 

• Continue to practice putting on your coat independently and doing it up. 

• Continue to practice putting shoes on independently. 

Literacy 

In School: 

• We will be learning new sounds and using our segmentation skills (splitting up words into sounds) to build words. We will also be practicing letter formation, continuing to write our own name and simple words, captions and sentences using the sounds we have learnt. 

• Daily focus activities to help develop our reading skills to read simple words and sentences independently. 

At Home: 

• Segment and verbally spell three/four letter words e.g hat, cat, dog, frog. 

• Read lots of stories and talk about the book. (Don’t forget our 50 Nights of Reading challenge). 

• Segment and spell more complex words as well as the harder to read and spell words we are learning in school.  

• Share a book with your child. Encourage children to make predictions, identify familiar words / sounds and talk about what they liked/disliked about the book. After reading the story ask your child to summarise the main points of the story. 

Maths 

In School: 

• We will be learning all about how we can make the numbers nine and ten.  

• We will be finding out how to make different amounts by adding 2 or 3 numbers together. 

• We will also be learning how to recognise different 3D shapes by their properties. 

At Home: 

• Practice number formation by writing and / or sorting numbers into the correct order (smallest to largest) 

• Recognising numbers in the environment.  

• Playing board games e.g. Snakes and Ladders. 

• Listen to and sing number songs and rhymes. 

Understanding of the World 

In School: 

• We will find out about and show interest in different stories from around the world.  

• To make observations of plants and discover how they grow over time. 

At Home: 

• Visit the local park, what plants you can see and how do they change over time? 

• Go to the library to find books about fairy tales. 

• Talk about the changes happening all around us with the change of seasons, what wildlife can you see?  

Expressive Art and Design 

In School: 

• We will experiment with colour, texture and resources and express our feelings through song and dance. 

• Children will be working together to act out roles, experiences and familiar stories. 

• Explore a variety of materials and textures in order to create an end product.  

• Explain the process used to build and create. 

At Home: 

• Role play and build stories around different toys or objects in the home. 

• Singing familiar songs. 

Outdoor Learning 

Outdoor Learning will continue this term. 

Pupils do not need to wear different clothing for Outdoor Learning sessions.  They must come to school in normal uniform. 

All pupils are provided with outdoor learning clothing to cover their own clothing.  This is put on in school before the session starts and removed after the session ends. 

Important Information 

Please remember, if your child wears earrings, they should only be studs. Hoops or other dangly earrings are not safe to be worn in school. 

Learning at Home 

Reading at home: Please ensure that your child's reading diary is brought to school every day in their book bag. Please read with your children every day and write it in their reading diary. Don’t forget that reading to your child is also really important. 

Both units are on X (formerly Twitter) so please follow us for updates - use the buttons below. 

The latest 'Learning At Home’ pack is available to download using the button below.  Please let us know if a paper copy is required.   

You can also visit our Learning Hub using the button below.  

Dates for your diary 

6th March – World Book Day 

11th and 12th March – Parent teacher meetings

25th March – Kingfisher assembly 

1st April – Puffin assembly 

9th April – Celebration assembly 

11th April – Last day of term non uniform day 

Thank you! 

The Reception Team 

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter)!

Don’t forget to follow our units on X.  Click a button below to find your child's unit on X.

It has been another fantastic half term in Kingfisher Unit. We have been learning so much and finding out about the world around us. Here are some of the highlights of this half term, linked to our school values.

ASPIRE

The children in Kingfisher Unit have been incredibly curious this term learning about the world in which we live. They have explored different environments around the world such as the cold, icy Antarctic to the harsh, hot conditions in a desert. We also explored animals that live in the jungle and rainforests as well as the wonders of what can be found in the ocean. The children had so much fun and their discussions about different animals have been fantastic. The children have demonstrated true determination skills this half term in phonics. They have been learning new sounds and applying this to their reading. It is wonderful how eager the children are to take part in phonic lessons and take a new decodable book home each week.

INSPIRE

The children in Kingfisher Unit come into school each day with such a positive attitude. This term we have really noticed how eager the children are to learn more and explore our key question ‘Where are we?’ The children have demonstrated such enthusiasm finding out about different parts of the world and learning about how animals have adapted to survive in different environments. The Kingfisher children are incredibly imaginative and this has led us to learn and develop lots of new skills to enable us to build and create. Our Kingfisher children are so creative, it is lovely to see their artwork and creations decorating our classrooms. 

TEAMWORK

The children in Kingfisher Unit are such a great team. It is wonderful watching their reactions to their friends getting certificates and awards for hard work. Each week we have certificate Friday where the children eagerly anticipate who will be getting a certificate for demonstrating our school values, completing a level on Numbots, achieving 50 Nights of Reading and finding out if we won the attendance or punctuality certificate. The Kingfisher children have a great sense of community and always clap and congratulate their friends. It was wonderful to see the wider Yardley School community come together for our recent workshop. We always enjoy having the opportunity to share your children’s wonderful achievements with you and it was great to see all the parents enjoying themselves by taking part in the activities provided.

Our Kingfishers continue to amaze us with how eager they are to learn and apply their knowledge.  The children have worked very hard all term, showing their commitment to our school values. We are so very proud of them all. The half term break is thoroughly deserved.

Take care and stay safe.

Mrs Acet, Miss Barnett, Miss Kinzett

It has been a fantastic half term in Puffin Unit. So much has happened, so much learning has taken place and the children are now so settled in school and are really enjoying their learning. Here are some of the highlights of this half term, linked to our school values.

ASPIRE

The children in Puffin Unit demonstrated curiosity during a particularly busy half term! We have enjoyed some fascinating topics and leant about many different habitats from around the world. Starting in the colder climates of the Polar Regions we learnt about penguins, polar bears, seals and other fascinating animals that have adapted to life there. Later in the term we moved to warmer climates, learning about how the earth is warmer around the equator with a focus on rainforest, desert and jungle habitats. Our final destination was under the sea, and we have loved learning about sharks, jelly fish, octopus to name but a few creatures! We also showed consideration when we thought about how we should look after these habitats and prevent the pollution and damage that is happening in the world.

INSPIRE

The children in Puffin Unit have shown such enthusiasm and positivity this half term with their mathematics. The children have been working so hard to develop their skills in maths. They have worked on many different subjects including subitising, composition, mass, capacity and comparing height and length. The children have been introduced to a wide range of vocabulary and have been using the correct language throughout the school day during their practical activities. They love to be creative and find different ways of making an amount and comparing with their friends. We often do this using our fingers. It has been wonderful to see them becoming confident young mathematicians!

TEAMWORK

There is a great sense of community in Puffins and we all show consideration and respect for each other. This term we have been building our friendships and working together as an amazing team. The children have worked together to create whole class art work during our Jungle and Under The Sea topics. They enjoyed working collaboratively to make a wonderful piece of art work which included many of the plants and animals that they have learnt about. The children have really developed good relationships with their friends and it is lovely to see their friendships grow. 

Our Puffins continue to amaze us with how eager they are to learn and apply their knowledge.  The children have worked very hard all term, showing their commitment to our school values. We are so very proud of them all. The half term break is thoroughly deserved.

Take care and stay safe.

Miss Nahar, Miss Williams and Miss Lewis 

Welcome back! We have really missed you and can’t wait to get started with our new learning this half term.  

This half term our key question for exploring in learning is: Where are we? 

When exploring this question, we will be learning about hot and cold climates, animals and their habitats, under the sea and conservation.  

Read about what we will be learning in school and what you can do at home to support this. 

Communication and Language (C and L) 

In School: 

• We will continue to ask appropriate questions and to tell stories, sequence ideas and events. 

• We will continue to encourage the children to speak clearly and audibly (so we can hear them) 

• We will be listening to find out about different environments. We will be responding to what we have learnt by sharing our thoughts and ideas with others. Through this we can develop new language skills and vocabulary.

At Home: 

• Encourage children to talk about different celebrations and ask appropriate questions. 

• Ask your children to tell you a story about a character that interests them. 

• Talk about the weather each day, what can you see outside? 

PSED (Personal, Social and Emotional Development) 

In School: 

• We will be learning to take turns and share when playing a game. This term we will also be developing confidence when facing new challenges and new experiences. 

• Children will be developing skills in asking appropriate questions to extend knowledge and understanding and encouraging each other to build confidence in sharing knowledge and experiences with others.

At Home: 

• Play board games. 

• Encourage children to share what they have been learning at school each day / week. 

PD (Physical Development) 

In School: 

• Outside we will encourage the children to move in a variety of ways such as skipping, hopping and jumping.  

• Inside we will be focussing on gaining confidence with scissor control and continuing to develop our pencil grip. (Crocodile snap- the children will show you this, give them a pencil and say “crocodile snap” and see their pencil grip). 

At Home: 

• Continue to practice putting on your coat independently and doing it up. 

Literacy 

In School: 

• We will be learning new sounds and using our segmentation skills (splitting up words into sounds) to build words. We will also be practising letter formation, writing our own name and simple words, captions and sentences using the sounds we have learnt. 

• Daily focus activities to help develop our reading skills to read simple words and sentences independently. 

At Home: 

• Segment and verbally spell three/four letter words e.g hat, cat, dog, frog. 

• Looking for key words in the environment and in print. (Stick sight words up around the house). 

• Read lots of stories and talk about the book. (Don’t forget our 50 Nights of Reading challenge). 

Maths 

In School: 

• We will be learning all about the number zero, as well as numbers up to and including 5.  

• We will be finding out how to make different amounts by adding 2 or 3 numbers together. 

• We will also be learning how to recognise amounts without counting each object. 

• We will explore capacity and weight in different ways. 

At Home: 

• Practise number formation by writing and / or sorting numbers into the correct order (smallest to largest) 

• Recognising numbers in the environment.  

• Playing board games e.g. Snakes and Ladders. 

• Listen to and sing number songs and rhymes. 

Understanding of the World 

In School: 

• We will find out about and show interest in different places around the world.  

• Through this we can explore similarities and differences of different countries. 

• We will learn through what role we can play in looking after our world. 

At Home: 

• Talk about different places you have been, read about or seen on t.v. 

• Go to the library to find books about different countries. 

• Talk about the changes happening all around us with the change of seasons, what wildlife can you see? How do they adapt to the weather? 

Expressive Art and Design 

In School: 

• We will experiment with colour, texture and resources and express our feelings through song and dance. 

• Children will be working together to act out roles, experiences and familiar stories. 

• To learn new songs.

At Home: 

• Role play and build stories around different toys or objects in the home. 

• Singing familiar songs. 

Outdoor Learning 

Outdoor Learning will continue this term. 

Pupils do not need to wear different clothing for Outdoor Learning sessions.  They must come to school in normal uniform. 

All pupils are provided with outdoor learning clothing to cover their own clothing.  This is put on in school before the session starts and removed after the session ends. 

Important Information 

Please remember, if your child wears earrings, they should only be studs. Hoops or other dangly earrings are not safe to be worn in school.

Learning at Home 

Reading at home: Please ensure that your child's reading diary is brought to school every day in their book bag. Please read with your children every day and write it in their reading diary. Don’t forget that reading to your child is also really important. 

Both units are on X (formerly Twitter) so please follow us for updates - use the buttons below. 

The latest 'Learning At Home’ pack will be available to download soon using the button below. Please let us know if a paper copy is required.   

You can also visit our Learning Hub using the button below.  

Dates for your diary 

11th February - Safer Internet Day. Children will spend the day learning about how to be safe when using technology 

11th February – Celebration assembly 9.10-9.40 

14th February – Last day of term non uniform day 

Thank you! 

The Reception Team

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter)!

Don’t forget to follow our units on X.  Click a button below to find your child's unit on X.

It has been a fantastic half term in Kingfisher Unit. So much has happened, so much learning has taken place and the children are now so settled in school and are really enjoying their learning. Here are some of the highlights of this half term.

Aspire

The children in Kingfisher Unit demonstrated true determination skills this half term in the outdoor area. After learning about the ambulance service and the job of a paramedic the children pretended that the outdoor bikes, scooters and cars were all ambulance vehicles and they were paramedics. They set up a road with obstacles, incidents to attend and had casualties who needed help. They then worked together to drive their ambulance vehicles to the incidents and helped to make the casualties feel better. The children had so much fun and their discussions about what the paramedics might do to help were fantastic. Kingfisher children have shown great curiosity about animals, hibernation and migration. They have discovered that some animals sleep for many months in order to survive and others migrate to warmer climates. For example, swallows will travel from the UK all the way to Africa. We found out that was a very long way to fly!

Inspire

The children in Kingfisher Unit have shown such enthusiasm this half term with their phonics. All of the children have been so excited to learn new sounds and apply them into reading new words. The children are so proud of themselves when they are reading new words and then being able to start reading sentences. Their love for learning and their enthusiasm for reading is just great. We love sharing stories in Kingfisher and we love to talk about the stories that we have been reading. The Kingfisher children are very creative and love to explore combining materials to create new effects. Our creative areas are always busy places within our provision and the children are able to use their imagination to further explore resources available.

Teamwork

The children in Kingfisher Unit are already such a great team. They work so well together all of the time. We are really proud of the sense of community that is seen in Kingfisher, especially when it is time to work together on a task. We were most impressed with the community feeling on Remembrance Day. The children listened beautifully to our Remembrance assembly with Mrs Woodley and then every child sat in silence for the two-minute silence. The children then made poppies and decorated poppy wreaths to hang in the classroom. Our weekly celebration of achievements in the Kingfisher unit are a pleasure to be a part of. The children are so excited to receive recognition for their hard work throughout the week and everybody joins in celebrating all that has been achieved.

Our Kingfishers continue to amaze us with how eager they are to learn and apply their knowledge.  The children have worked very hard all term, showing their commitment to our school values. We are so very proud of them all. The Christmas break is thoroughly deserved. 

Have a great Christmas everyone. See you in 2025.  Take care and stay safe. 

Mrs Acet, Miss Barnett, Mrs Erdinc and Miss Erdinc.

It has been a fantastic half term in Puffin Unit. So much has happened, so much learning has taken place and the children are now so settled in school and are really enjoying their learning. Here are some of the highlights of this half term. 

Apsire

The children in Puffin Unit demonstrated true determination skills this half term in the outdoor area. After learning about the ambulance service and the job of a paramedic the children pretended that the outdoor bikes, scooters and cars were all ambulance vehicles and they were paramedics. They set up a road with obstacles, incidents to attend and had casualties who needed help. They then worked together to drive their ambulance vehicles to the incidents and helped to make the casualties feel better. The children had so much fun and their discussions about what the paramedics might do to help were fantastic. The Puffin children have shown immense curiosity about animals’ hibernation and migration. They have discovered that some animals sleep for many months in order to survive and others migrate to warmer climates such as the Swallows will travel from the UK all the way to Africa.

Inspire

The children in Puffin Unit have shown such enthusiasm this half term with their phonics. All of the children have been so excited to learn new sounds and apply them into reading new words. The children are so proud of themselves when they are reading new words and then being able to start reading sentences. Their love for learning and their enthusiasm for reading is just great. We love sharing stories in Puffin and we love to talk about the stories that we have been reading.

Teamwork

The children in Puffin Unit are already such a great team. They work so well together all of the time. We are really proud of the sense of community that is seen in Puffin, especially when it is time to work together on a task. We were most impressed with the community feeling on Remembrance Day. The children listened beautifully to our Remembrance assembly with Mr Bulloch and then every child sat in silence for the two-minute silence. The children then made poppies and decorated poppy wreaths to hang in the classroom.

The Puffin class have worked tremendously hard this term to work as a team, inspire each other and share their dreams for the future. We are very proud of their achievements so far and we look forward to seeing them develop and flourish in the Spring term.

Have a great Christmas everyone. See you in 2025. Take care and stay safe. 

Miss Nahar, Miss Williams, Miss Kinzett and Miss Lewis. 

This half term our key questions are:

Who is that?

What’s going on?

Through exploring these question we will be learning about people who help us in the community and looking at the weather, the changes in the seasons, how it looks in our environment and the impact it has on local wildlife.

Read about what we will be learning in school and what you can do at home to support this.

C and L (Communication and Language)

In School:

• We will continue to ask appropriate questions and to tell stories, sequence ideas and events.

At Home:

• Encourage children to talk about different celebrations and ask appropriate questions.

• Ask your children to tell you a story about a character that interests them.

• Talk about the weather each day, what can you see outside?

PSED (Personal, Social and Emotional Development)

In School:

• We will be learning to take turns and share when playing a game. This term we will also be developing confidence when facing new challenges and new experiences.

At Home:

• Play board games.

PD (Physical Development)\

In School/At Home:

• We will be learning to put coat on independently and do it up. To move in a variety of ways such as skipping, hopping and jumping. To gain confidence with scissor control and to continue to develop our pencil grip. (Crocodile snap).

Literacy

In School:

• We will be learning new sounds and using our segmentation skills (splitting up words into sounds) to build words. We will also be practising letter formation, writing our own name and simple words using the sounds we have learnt.

At Home:

• Segment and spell three/four letter words e.g hat, cat, dog, frog.

• Looking for key words in the environment and in print. (Stick sight words up around the house).

• Read lots of stories and talk about the book. (Don’t forget our 50 Nights of Reading challenge).

Maths

In School:

• We will represent, compare and find out about the composition of numbers to 5. Use positional language in everyday conversations. Find one more and one less of a number apply our knowledge of numbers to solve mathematical problems and count reliably.

At Home:

• Sorting and matching socks that have been washed.

• Number formation.

• Playing board games e.g Snakes and Ladders.

• Listen to and sing number songs and rhymes.

Understanding of the World

In School/At Home:

• We will find out about and show interest in different ways of life. Learn about similarities and differences within their community.

At Home:

• Talk about different people in our community.

• Go to the library to find books about people who help us and seasons.

• Talk about the changes happening all around us with the change of seasons.

Expressive Art and Design

In School:

• We will experiment with colour, texture and resources and express our feelings through song and dance.

At Home:

• Role play and build stories around different toys or objects in the home.

• Singing familiar songs.

Outdoor Learning

Outdoor Learning starts this term.

Pupils do not need to wear different clothing for Outdoor Learning sessions.  They must come to school in normal uniform.

All pupils are provided with outdoor learning clothing to cover their own clothing.  This is put on in school before the session starts and removed after the session ends.

Pupils will need to bring in a pair of wellies which will be kept in school.  Please label each boot with your child’s name.

Important Information

Please remember, if your child wears earrings, they should only be studs. Hoops or other dangly earrings are not safe to be worn in school.

Learning at Home

Reading at home: Please ensure that your child's reading diary is brought to school every day in their book bag. Please read with your children every day and write it in their reading diary.

All units are on X (formerly Twitter) so please follow us for updates - use the buttons below.

The latest 'Learning At Home’ pack will be available to download soon using the button below.  Please let us know if a paper copy is required.  

You can also visit our Learning Hub using the button below. 

Winter Disco

Yardley Fundraisers (our PTFA) will be holding a Winter Disco for Reception on the following date:

• Monday 2nd December 2024 / 4.00pm to 5.15pm

Click here for further information and how to book.

Thank you!

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter)!

Don’t forget to follow our units on X.  Click a button below to find your child's unit on X.

Well Kingfishers we have finished our first half term at school and you have been amazing. We are so proud of how well all have you have settled into the school routine and begun your learning journey. It has been a very busy half term getting to know each other and exploring all the resources and activities that are provided each day. I think we all need a week to recharge our batteries ready for the next part of our learning adventure.

So far in school we have been learning all about each other. We have been asking questions and listening to everyone’s experiences and ideas. We have also been finding out about all the different people in school who help us – there are so many!

We have begun learning the sounds of the alphabet and we are so impressed with how eager you all are to learn the sounds and apply them to help you read words. Kingfishers you are all superstars! We are also learning how to write each letter. This is tricky, but we can see improvements in children’s writing already so don’t give up, continue to show us your enthusiasm and determination.

During Maths we have been exploring pattern, we have been matching patterns as well as creating repeating patterns. At home, have a go at creating your own repeating pattern, for example leaf, stick, leaf, stick.  

Some children are still finding putting on their own coat tricky. Please practise this at home and help your child learn to do up their coat independently. This would save us a lot of time in class.

Next term we will begin our Outdoor Learning sessions, please remember to bring in a pair of wellies if you haven’t already done so, as it does get very muddy over there. We have waterproof suits that children wear to protect their clothing so a change of clothes is not required.

Have a restful half term Kingfishers. We can’t wait for more fun with you next term.

Wow! A great start to Reception in the Puffin class for Autumn 1. We are very pleased with how your children have settled into school. Thank you for your patience and support this half term. 

The children have been learning to become independent in the Puffin class and we are so pleased to say that all of the children are now independently doing their early morning jobs. Please continue to encourage children to be as independent as possible at home and continue to allow them to practise doing buttons and zips. Allow your child to get dressed and undressed at home. 

In Literacy, the children have been learning to identify their name and beginning to write their name. The children are aware that they need a capital letter at the start and rest of the letters are lower case. Continue to practise name writing at home. 

In phonics, the children have been learning their sounds and harder to read and spell words. 

• Sounds are: s, a, t, p, i, m, d, g, o, c, k, ck, e, u, r, b, f, ff, l, ll.

Please practise blending words with these sounds. For example, sock, rock

• Words are: a, I, the, his, no, as, put, of, is, to, go, into, pull.

Please help your child to find these sounds and words in their books. 

Vocabulary words are related to our school values (Inspire/Aspire/Teamwork)

• Determination: I can do it!

• Positivity: I love learning!

In Maths, the children have been practising to count orally every day and experience lots of hands on practical Maths. Please continue to practise counting, singing number songs and identify numerals in the environment. You could also go on a shape hunt and look for shapes in the environment. 

It was lovely to record our Harvest song. The children enjoyed making cabbages and singing their song for you all. We hope you enjoyed the show! The children were amazing! Thank you for all your food donations too. It is nice that we can work as a team #TEAMWORK to support our families in our community. 

We enjoyed learning about Diwali on the last week of term. Happy Diwali to all families and friends celebrating this week. 

After half term holiday, we will be starting outdoor learning which is located on site in our school field. Please bring wellington boots -labelled with their name into school. 

Thank you to all the parents who attended our Phonics workshop and for the positive feedback to school. We can see that these sessions are very valuable to you all. We will have more workshops ahead. 

We really enjoyed speaking to many parents at the end of the term. We are very proud of how the children have settled and made a great start to Reception life. 

Enjoy your half term break. 

Hope you all have a nice break and I will see you soon. 

Miss Nahar, Miss Kinzett, Miss Williams, and Miss Lewis

Welcome to the first Reception blog of the school year! It has been a pleasure to welcome everyone in to our school, it has been a wonderful start!

Our questions this term will be:

• Who am I? 

• Who are we? 

• Who is that?

Through exploring these questions, we will learn about each other, our school and the local community. 

Physical Development

In school we will be developing skills in holding and using a pencil, developing independence skills in self-care e.g. going to the toilet, putting on and finding own coat. We will also be developing our balance, co-ordination and movement skills through the use of our outdoor areas and our indoor climbing frame.

Children are engaged in physical activities everyday so please ensure children are not wearing jewellery (ear studs are acceptable) and have appropriate footwear on. 

Ways you can help at home:

• Encourage children to dress independently.

• Practise name writing using a capital letter at the beginning and lower-case letters for the remainder.

Communication and Language

In school we will be learning to develop our attention by listening to stories, practising following simple instructions and sharing our own experiences with others.

Ways that you can help at home are: 

• Share stories with your child.

• Give your child sets of instructions to follow at home, e.g. first eat your breakfast, then brush your teeth.

• To share memories of important events at autumn.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Our learning this term will be to say when we do or don’t need help, to form good relationships with adults and children in school. 

Ways that you can help at home are: 

• Encourage your child to verbalise their needs and use good manners.

Literacy

This term our learning focus will be to give meaning to marks as we draw, write and paint. This will be extended so that children begin to form recognisable letters in order to write their name. We will be paying particular attention to the way that letters are formed so that children are able to form letters correctly. We will begin our journey into learning the sounds of letters and applying this knowledge to read simple words. 

Ways that you can help at home are: 

• Encourage children to identify recognisable letters in the environment and make links to their own name.

• To practise writing their name.

• To practise the sounds we have learnt each week.

• To share a book every night.

• Support children in reading their phonic book at least 3 times every week.

Maths

In school we will be using number names and number language appropriately. We will also be developing children’s knowledge of shape and space by playing with shapes and making arrangements with objects. 

Ways that you can help at home are: 

• Discuss shapes around the home. How many can you find?

• Look at numbers in the environment. What number is on your door? 

Understanding of the World

Activities we will be doing in school that you can do at home:

• Talk about special times or events for family or friends. 

• Encourage children to comment and ask questions about the world around them.

Expressive Art and Design

In school we will be experimenting with colour, texture and resources. Expressing our feelings through song and dance. 

Ways that you can help at home are: 

• Role play

• Build stories around different toys or objects in the home. 

• Explore rhythm and movements to songs. 

Reminders

Please ensure that your child has a pair of wellies and a water bottle in school (don’t forget to label them).

Please do not bring rucksacks as these are too big to store in classrooms and damage our books.

Please can you also make sure that all belongings are clearly labelled with your child’s name and class.

Learning at Home

Reading at home: This half term each child will receive a reading diary, please ensure that it is brought to school every day in their book bag. Please read with your children every day and write it in their reading diary.

All units are on X (formerly Twitter) so please follow us for updates - use the buttons below.

The latest 'Learning At Home’ pack will be available to download soon using the button below.  Please let us know if a paper copy is required.  

You can also visit our Learning Hub using the button below. 

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter)!

Don’t forget to follow our units on X.  Click a button below to find your child's unit on X.

So for our final term in Reception we have been learning all about traditional stories, Eid, holidays and getting ready for Year 1. We also had great fun dressing in our graduation clothes to celebrate all we have achieved with you at our graduation ceremony.

The children thoroughly enjoyed joining in with the repetitive phrases in the stories we have read and I have seen this reflected in the writing they have done. The children have been amazing at retelling the stories and acting them out. The confidence that they display doing this is wonderful to see.

In maths we have been practising all we have learnt this year. We have been naming and describing 2D and 3D shapes, using numbers to 20 (and beyond) to solve problems by adding, subtracting, halving and doubling. We have even been learning and exploring number bonds to 10. Phew! What a busy term.

We recently enjoyed our sports day, you were such great team players cheering everyone on. I was very impressed with everyone’s resilience and determination.

I can't believe that we are at the end of the school year RB. We have had so much fun over the past year and I thoroughly enjoyed being able to celebrate this in our graduation ceremony. I still remember your first day here at Yardley Primary when you astounded me with how well you came into school, it was as though you had been doing it for years. You have been a truly amazing class and I look forward to watching you grow as you progress through the school.

Thank you for a fabulous year, enjoy the summer and I will see you soon,

Miss Barnett

We have had such a fantastic final half term RMB, you have grown so much and I am so proud of you!

 This term we have been focussing on so many wonderful new themes. The children have been focussing on lots of story-telling this half term.  We have read traditional tales such as, The Gingerbread Man and The Little Red Hen 

The children thoroughly enjoyed joining in with the repetitive phrases and acting out the stories. The children were amazing at retelling the story through their story maps and we had some amazing story-telling on Twitter. 

Our holiday topic was very exciting as there were lots of children who were able to talk about various holidays such as going to a hot country such as Turkey or visiting a colder country such as Iceland. The children loved talking about different holidays such as camping, going to the beach, going on a safari and visiting countries around the world. The children loved comparing and discussing what they would need for these holidays. 

During transition week, the children enjoyed meeting their Year 1 teacher. Mr Shah was so impressed with the children and is very excited to teach you next half term.

The children’s Graduation Day ceremony was a great celebration day. The children enjoyed singing for you all and stood proudly holding their certificates. Hope you enjoyed the ceremony. I think it was an emotional day for all of us!

Finally we had a week about what we are looking forward to, the children talked about their hopes, aspirations and goals for the future. We had to celebrate their success with a well-deserved ice lolly. 

Good luck in Year 1 children, I will miss you all very much and will look back on our time together with such joy. 

Have a very happy summer holiday everyone, stay safe and have fun.

Miss Brown, Mrs Erdinc and Miss Godsil.

It’s been a long term in school and the children are ready for their Summer break. This term we have been focussing on so many wonderful new themes. The children have been focussing on lots of story-telling this half term. 

Here are the stories that we focussed on:

• The Gingerbread Man

• The little Red Hen 

The children thoroughly enjoyed joining in with the repetitive phrases and acting out the stories. The children were amazing at retelling the story through their story maps and we had some amazing story-telling on Twitter. 

We then enjoyed learning about Eid Al-Adha and the children enjoyed sharing their Eid celebration experiences with their friends in class. 

Our holiday topic was very exciting as there were lots of children who were able to talk about various holidays such as going to a hot country such as Pakistan or visiting a colder country such as Iceland. The children loved talking about different holidays such as camping, going to the beach, going on a safari and visiting countries around the world. The children loved comparing and discussing what they would need for these holidays. 

During transition week, the children enjoyed meeting their Year 1 teacher. We also had a Graduation Day ceremony which was a great celebration day. The children enjoyed singing for you all. Hope you enjoyed the ceremony. I think it was an emotional day for all of us!

Finally we had a week about what we are looking forward to, the children talked about their hopes, aspirations and goals for the future. We had to celebrate their success with a well-deserved ice lolly. 

Good luck in Year 1. I will miss you all very much. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. 

Have a very happy Summer holiday everyone.

Well done to all the children for their first year at school! This term has been especially action packed!

It’s been a busy term in school and the children are ready for their Summer break. This term we have been focussing on so many wonderful new themes. The children have been focussing on lots of story-telling this half term.  We  enjoyed the stories of The Little Red Hen and The Gingerbread Man in particular.

The children thoroughly enjoyed joining in with the repetitive phrases and acting out the stories. The children were amazing at retelling the story through their role play and writing. 

We then enjoyed learning about Eid Al-Adha and the children enjoyed sharing their Eid celebration experiences with their friends in class.  

Our holiday topic was very exciting as there were lots of children who were able to talk about various holidays such as going to a hot country such as Pakistan or visiting a colder country such as Iceland. The children loved talking about different holidays such as camping, going to the beach, going on a safari and visiting countries around the world. The children loved comparing and discussing what they would need for these holidays.  

During transition week, the children enjoyed meeting their Year 1 teacher. We also had a Graduation Day ceremony which was a great celebration day. The children enjoyed singing for you all. Hope you enjoyed the ceremony. I think it was an emotional day for all of us! 

Finally we had a week about what we are looking forward to, the children talked about their hopes, aspirations and goals for the future. We had to celebrate their success with a well-deserved ice lolly.  

Good luck in Year 1. I will miss you all very much. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. 

Have a very happy Summer holiday everyone.

Can you believe we are about to start our final term in Reception! Here is our planned learning for the Summer term in Reception:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

In school we will be learning to: 

• Develop own narratives and explanations by connecting ideas or events.

• Adapt work to improve outcomes and choose what activities to take part in and with whom.

At home you can: 

• Encourage children to share what they have been learning at school each day / week. 

• Share the new words they have learnt and include these words in everyday conversations.

Communication and Language

In school we will be learning to: 

• Talk about the plans they have made to carry out activities and what they might change if they were to repeat them. 

• Respond to questions and make relevant comments about their own experiences.

At home you can: 

• Encourage children to talk through what they do and think and reflect upon their actions/choices. Would they change anything if they were to do it again?

Physical Development

In school / At home 

• To learn how to keep safe and healthy in the sun and to continue experimenting with different ways of moving.

• To further develop pencil skills so that the height of letters is uniform, with descenders and ascenders clear.

Children have access to climbing and balancing apparatus, sports games and the outside area on a daily basis, so sensible footwear is necessary each day.

Literacy

In school we will be learning to:

• Read and write more complex sentences.

• Use some basic punctuation correctly.

• Form letters correctly.

• Use and apply all Phase 2 and 3 sounds in our reading and writing.

At home you can:

• Segment and spell more complex words as well as the harder to read and write words we are learning in school.

• Share a book with your child. Encourage children to make predictions, identify familiar words / sounds and talk about what they liked/disliked about the book. After reading the story ask your child to summarise the main points of the story.

Maths

In school we will be learning to:

• Be confident with numbers to 20

• Solve problems by doubling, halving and sharing numbers 1-20.

• Use a range of mathematical language in everyday conversations.

• Add and subtract numbers using different strategies eg. fingers, objects, a number line, Numicon.

• Know some number bonds

At home you can: 

• Cover one number in a set and ask children to identify which one is hidden. Explain why you think that? 

• Encourage children to help with everyday tasks such as cooking — talk about different weights, sizes, amounts.

Understanding of the World

In school/At home:

• To make observations of animals and plants and talk about how they change/grow over time.

• Visit the local park, what plants you can see and how do they change over time?

• To make observations about different materials and make comments about purposes they are used for.

Expressive Art and Design

In school we will be learning to:

• Explore a variety of materials and textures in order to create an end product.

• Explore technology, art, music, dance and stories

• Talk about the ideas and processes which have led to making music, designs, images or products. 

At home you can:

• Encourage your child to create models and pictures with a variety of materials.

• Encourage your child to talk about what they see, do and make and discuss reasoning behind these ideas.

Learning at Home

Please read with your children every day and write it in their reading diary.

All classes are on Twitter so please follow us for updates - use the buttons below.

The latest 'Learning At Home’ pack will be available to download this week using the button below.  Please let us know if a paper copy is required.  

You can also visit our Learning Hub using the button below. 

Follow us on Twitter!

Don’t forget to follow our classes on Twitter.  Click a button below to find your child's class on Twitter.